Card-index system



J. H. RAND, 1R. CARD INDEX SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED M21. 1917.

Patented N 0v. 22, 1921.

5s AMT.

JAN] 50.10

DATE www. Fehlb. IO 00 A TTZiR/Vf Y5 l. H. RAND, JR. CARD INDEX SYSTEM.APPLICATION FILED MAY 21, 1917.

Patented Nov. 22, 1921 3 SHEETSSHEE. 2.

J. H. RAND, JR. CARD INDEX SYSTEM. APPLICATION FILED MAY 2!, 1917.

Patented NOV. 22, 1921.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

Y. N M M f U B MOFHS. Jose h 36 Oak ST Buff lo NY.

2| Mam 61 II E. Church,

1 MENTOR.

A TTOR/VE m:

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

James RAND, JR, or "IONAWANDA, NEW YORK.

CARD- lNDEX SYSTEM.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, James H; RAND, Jr., acitizen of the United States, residing" at Tonawanda, in the county ofErie and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvementin Card-Index Systems, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to card indexsystems of the overlapping cardtype, in which a series of cards or card holders are so disposed inoverlapping: and spaced relation to each other that marginal portions ofthe cards or card holders bearing, index matter, or index membersareexposed and visible one above another. More particularly theinvention relates to card index systems of this type in which the cardsor card holders are provided with tongues or parts whereby the cards orcard holders interlock or nest together in such a manner that one cardor card holder is supported by another and one card or and holder cannotbe removed from the series without first moving it out of interlockingengagement with an adjacent card or card holder. I

In this specification the term -card, except where otherwise apparent,is used in a broad sense to denote either a piece of cardboard, paper orother membe' analogous to a card having information printed or writtendirectly thereon. or a member analogous to a 'ard on which a separatecard, slip of paper or the like, bearing the information is suitablyretained so that this member or card holder with its attachedseparate'information slip can be manipulated and used like a card.

one object of this invention is to produce a practical and desirablecard index system of this nature in which the index members or exposedportions of the cards that bear the index matter are covered andprotected by transparent sheaths or protectors which cooperate tointerlock the cards and retain them in the overlapped spacedrelationship.

ther objects of the invention will appear from the following descriptionand claims. In the accompanying drawings Figure l is a front elevationon a reduced scale of a series of overlapping cards embodying theinvention. showing the same in position on the 'linme'tor support forthe same.

or". the cards and its sheath, a portion of the Specification of LettersPatent.

is a front elevation. tull size, of one Patented Nov. 22, 1921 1917;serial- No. 169,883.

supportin frame being shown partlv in 8i."

. J vation and partly in section.

I* 1g. 3 IS a trout elevation, on a. reduced scale, of one of the cardsremoved from the frame and sheath and before the same is folded to formthe index portion.

Fig. '1 is a fragmentary perspective view of one of the complete cards.

Fig. 5 is a sectional perspective of one of the card sheaths orprotectors.

Fig. (3 is a fragmentary section of one ofthe 'ards with the sheath orprotector. in place thereon. I

Fig. 7 is a cross section of a plurality of the cards, showing the sameinterior-keel but removed from the frame.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary front elevation, similar to Fig. 1, showing aportion of the series of cards raised in the frame to expose theinformation appearing: on one ofthe cards.

Fig. 5) is a fragmentary moss-section of the fram and the cards thereon.

Fig. front elevation, on a reduced scale. of a modification of theinvention, showing a card. holder with separate information card orslipretained thereon, the card being partially withdrawn l'rom the holderand the index slip being partially drawn from the sheath.

Fig. 1]v is a section, l1-ll, Fig. 10.

Fig. 12 is a front elevation, scale, of another tion.

vFig".

Fig. tion, showing another modification Fig. the cards shown in Fig. 14.

Figs. 16 and 17 are sectional perspectives of still other modifications.

Referring; first, to the construction shown in Figs. 14?,- Arepresentsone of the. cards which are arranged in overlapping relation as shown inFig. 1, in a suitable frame or support- B, 'wliicl1 is provided at itsopposite side. edges with the usual inturned flanges l) forming guidesZ) for retainir gthe cards on the frame. Tl'ie cards A can he made ofthin cardboard, paper or other suitable sheetmaterial. Preferably theyare made of com paratively thin flexible papenas ther W the cost of thecards is reduced and the full size, on line i on a reduced modificationof the inven- 13 is a section on line .3 13. Fig. 12.

is a sectional perspective view or His a front elevation, partly insecless space in the guides of the frame and permit the cards slide muchmore tree in the guides than it thicker c C represents a sheath or prapplied to the upper ma; J per each of the cards A. This sheath ispreferably composed as showm of a front strip oi thin, transparentcelluloid l5 and back or tongue strip 16 of thin cardboard or relativelystiff paper secured to the celluloid strip below the upper edge ther bystaples or other suitable fastening ecs 17. The lower portion 18 of thecelluloid strip is bent rearwz'irdly and upwardly be tween the bodyportion of the front strip and the back. strip, thus forming an openended pocket. In the construction shown in Figs. 1-9, the upper marginalportion of the card A, see Fig. 4:, is folded first downwardly asindicated at 19 and then upwardly, forming a front index member orportion 520 on which is Written or printed the name of the personrepresented by the card or other matter indicating; the nature or theinformation contained on the *card. By tolding the card in this Way theindex matter can be printed on the front of the card, that is on thesame 'facethereot on which the information on the body of the card isprinted. The folded portion of the card is slipped endwise into thepoelret of the sheath C so that the sheath is retained on the card andthe index member 20 is protected by the irds Wei" sheath While thematterthereon can be read through the transparent front Wall of thesheath. The card depends from the sheath between the back strip 16 andthe upwardly bent portion of the celluloid front strip, as clearly shownin Fig. 6. The back strip of the sheath shown is preferably provided"with slits 21, see Fig. 5. below and parallel v with the staples 17.The upper folded edge of the card is adapted to engage the edges ofthese slits, which act stops to prevent the cards from Wedging inbetween the front ips of the and hack s r sheath and thus making; it nownlicult to slip the card into out at the sheath. The stop slits could beprovided in the front strip i'lesired but they are preferably made inthe back strip. as stated.

Preferably, the folded portion of the card forming the index member isshorter than the body portion of thacarrhnnd the sheath is made ofapprtmimately equal length so that when the cards with the sheathsthereon are arranged in the supporting trams ll the opposite endportions of the carts will extend in? the guides termed by the flanges bof the irame While the index. portions 20 and the sheaths will projectforwardly from the cardsbetrveen the frame flanges and, will not extendinto the guides of the frame. The cards are nested or interlocked onewith another and retained in spaced relationsnip',

N 1 hull as shown in Fig. 1, by inserting the upper portion of thesheath for one card up betweer the pocket and. the'l'iaclr strip of thesheath for the next card above and in front of the body of the lattercard as shown in Fig. 7. As thus arranged the body portions of the cardsare disposed one behind another and the lower front portion of eachsheath and the index member 20 of the card therein are exposed to Viewbeneath the sheath and the index portion of the neat card shove. A cardor group of cards thus assembled can be readily inserted into place in.the frame by bowing or springing the card or qrrmp of cards so as toinsert the opposite ends of the card or group into the opposite Quid-es7) of the frame. The cards are retatued in the frame by the end portionsthereof which extend. beyond the ends of the sheaths into the guides. Asthe cards overlap for the greater portion of their height, the endportions of each card ext-end back of the corresponding portions of anumber or" other cards and the requisite stillness or strength is thusprovided to hold the cards securely in the frame, although the cards maybe made of thin, flexible pieces-of paper. Since the cards are thin, theend portions thereof do not bind or stick in the guides notwithstandingthat there are a number of thicln'less'es in all portions of the guides,and the cards can slide or slip up and down in the guides freely Withoutrequiring deep guides. When it is desired to examine a card the sheathfor this card is grasped and raised vertically in the frame, whichliftsthe sheaths above the same to.

nether with their cards until-the face of the desired card is'exposed toview, as shown in 'l ig". 8. When the card is released. it together withthe cards above it will slide down by gravity into place in the framebehind the next lower card with the sheath of the card which has beenez'ramined overlapping and interlocking with the sheath for the nextcard below. The cards slide very freely in the frame and can. thus bemanipia lated and examined readily; Any desired card can be readilyremoved from the frame by similarly raising the card and' thendisengaging its sheath from the neat sheath above and removing the cardand sheath Ltd from the frame. In a similar manner a card i can bereadily inserted at any desired point between any two cards in theseries.

If it is desired to hide from viewthe body of the lowermost card of theseries in the trzune, this can be conveniently" done by means or a coveror plain card 22 which is inserted in the frame in front of-the face ofthe lowermost card, as shown in Fig. 1.

ln the construction shown in. Figs. 10 and 11.. instead "of a cardhaving information' printed or written thereon as before er plained,plain card or card holder A is nee card or written or is shown, the tie,downwardiy t T1 2 1, which is C for ieath and inserted or printed andthe slips the sheath.

another construction rr'ls already in use.

i s'raction the sheath made baa-i; strip which depends strip 1:: pendedwnn inch lugs on 2 for retaining in y othersuitcard to its back i,CUIiStIIICtlOII a -'o that shown i ani The cards afhs shown 1n us :301.:truct1on are rnctions by 1e sheath torand the back above deiongues onlock the cards and provide exposed index portions, but in avh'ch theprotecting covers or sheaths are omitted. Figs. 1a to 17 show suchconstructions. In the form shown in Figs. 14 and 15 the cards A arefolded the same as the cards in the first construction described, exceptthat the index portion or foid 33 extends above the upper edge of thebody portion of the card. In assembling these cards the folded part ortongue of one weird is inserted between the folded tongue and body partof the next card, as shown in- Fig. 15. A portion of each tongue isexposed below the next tongue and the index matter is written or printedon these exposed parts.

Fig. 16 shows a "form in which the tongue formed'by a single foldedmargin of the card A? stapled between its edges to the body of the card,and Fig. 17 shows another form in which the tongue is formed by aseparate strip of material secured, as b h frame tor holding the cardsthereon, and the tongues project forwardly between the guide flanges otthe frame.

1 claim as my invention:

1. In a card system, a series of cards, a sheath connected to each cardadjacent to one margin thereof for protecting an index member for thecard, said cards being assembled with the sheath of each card nestedbetween the sheath and the body of the next card in the series, wherebysaid cards are interlocked and spaced with their sheaths projecting onebeyond another.

2. In a card-system, a series of cards, a sheath onnected to each cardadjacent to one n'iargin thereof and extending toward the oppositemargin of the card in front of the card for protecting an index memberforthe card, said cards being assembled with the sheath of each cardnested hetyeenthe sheath and the body of the next card in the series,whereby said cards are interlocked and spaced with their sheathsprojecting one beyond another.

3. In a card system, a series of cards sheath connected to e tone-marginthereof for protecting an index member for the card. said cards beingassembled with the sheath of each card inserted and interlocked betweenthe sheath and the body of the next card in the series, and each cardand its sheath ha ing means for limiting: the insertion of the sheath ofthe next card between the same, whereby saidcards e spaced with theirsheaths projecting one ind anotherystenl, a series of cards, a

ich card adjacent to one margin thereof for protecting an index memberfor the card, said sheath extending above and below its point ofconnection with the card, and said cards being assemhlei'lwith' thesheath of each card nested between the sheath and thebody of the nextcard in the series, whereby said cards are interlocked and spaced withtheir sheaths projer'rting one beyond another.

in a card system, a series of cards, ,a sheath connected to each cardadjacent to one. margin thereof and provided with a pocket whichcontains and protects an index member for the card and with a thin edgeportion which projects beyond the card and is adapted to nest betweenthe sheath and the body of the next card in the series, whereby saidcards are interlocked and.

spaced with their sheaths projecting one beyond another.

6. In a card system, a ser es of cards, a sheath engaged with one marginof each card and comprising av pocket for anindex member located infront of thecard and a sheath engaged with one margin of each card andcomprising a transparent front stripand a back strip fastenedtogether-between their edges and extending respco tively in front of andback of the card, said cards being assembled with the sheath of one cardnested between the ca rd of the.

series and the front strip oi. the sheath there for Whereb said cardsare interlocked andspaced "ith their sheaths projecting one beyondanother.

8. In a card system, a series of cards, a

sheath connected to each card adjacent to one margin thereof forprotecting, an index member for the card, said cands being longer thanand projecting: beyond the endsoi the sheaths for engagement with asupport for;

retaining the cards thereon, said cards being assembled with the sheathoficac'h card nested between the sheath and the body of the n at ard inthe series, Wherebysaid cards ai e "interlocked and spaced withtheirsheaths projecting; one beyond another.

9. In a card system, a series of sheaths arranged in nested relationwith sachet-her with each sheath projecting beyond the next sheath, saidsheathshaving transparent iront Walls adapted to cover index members andcards connected to said sheaths and es:- tending one behind another. v

10. In a card system, a series of sheaths hwvim; transparent front Wallsadapted to cover index members and having); parts adapting the sheathsto interlock with each mamas other With each sheathprojecting beyond thenext sheath, and cards connected to said sheaths and extending-onebehind another.

11. In a card system, the combination of frame, a series of sheathsassembled in nested relation with each sheath projecting beyond thenext" sheath, said sheaths" having transparent front walls adapted tocover index members, and cards connected to said sheaths and havingretaining parts engaging the 7 and sheaths on front Welland a tongueback of said pocket and separated therefrom by a spar adapted to receivea similar sheath for interlocking the sheaths, a card which is connectedto said sheath and extends in between the pocket and the tongue of thesheath, and an index: member for the card confined in the pocket of thesheath.

it. A unit for card systems, comprising t sheath having a pocket with a'transparent front wall and a tongue back, of said pocket, a card whichis connected tosaid sheath and. extends in bet'mecnthe pocket andthetongue of the sheath said card being longer than and 10eprojcctingbeyond the ends of'the sheath. and an inder; member for the cardconfined in the pocket of the sheath. 7

15. A unit for card systems, comprising a sheath having a pocket with atransparent .front wall, a card connected at one margin to sand. sheath,an index member confined 1n the pocketof said sheath, and a separatecard retained on said first mentioned. card.

16. A unit for card systems, comprising a.

sheath having apocket with a transparent i'ro'nt wall, a card having a'fol-(ledinargrinalx portion confined in said sheatli,'a1'icl havingmeans for retaining a separate card thereon,

and an index member confined in the pocket r15 of said sheath.

1?. in a card system, a seriesof units, each unit having a substantiallyrectangular card portion of relatively large area and adapted.

to bear reference matter, and a: relatively 12o narrow tongue infront ofsaid card portion, each unit being: arranged with one margin thereofnested between the tongue and card portion of'- the next unit and yyitheach tongue only partially overlapping the next tongue, whereby saidunits are interlocked and said tongues provide exposed index no tions infront of said cardportions located one above another.

18. In a card system, a series. of units, T;

each unit having a substantially rectangular card portion of relativelylarge area and adapted to bear reference matter, and a relatively narrowtongue arranged at the front side of said card portion and adjacent toone edge thereof. each unitbeing arranged with o11e,xnargin thereofnested between the tongue and card portion of the next unit and witheach tongue only partially overlapping the next tongue, whereby saidunits are interlocked and said 'tongues provide exposed index portionsin front of said card portions located one above another.

19. In a card system, a series of units having tongues at their frontsides and arranged with one margin of each unit nested between thetongue and the body of the next unit and with each tongue only partiallyoverlapping the next tongue. whereby said units are interlocked and saidtongues provide exposed index portions in front of the units located oneabove another, the ends of said units projecting beyond the ends of saidtongues for engagement with a frame for retaining the units thereon.

2!). In a card system, a series of units, each unit having asubstantially rectangular card portion of relatively large area andadapted to bear reference matter and a relatively narrow tongue arrangedat the front side of said card portion with its edges substantiallyparallel with opposite edges of said card portion, each unit beingarranged with one margin thereof nested between the tongue and cardportion of the next unit and with each tongue only partially overlappingthe next tongue, whereby said units are interlocked and said tonguesprovide exposed index portions infront of said card portions located oneabove another.

21. A unit for card systems, comprising a card provided at its frontside adjacent to one edge with a tongue which extends toward theopposite edge of the card and has a free edge portion substantiallyparallel with said edge of the card and providing an index portion forsaid card, said tongue terminating at its ends short of the ends of thecard.

\Vitness my hand, this 15th day of May,

JAMES H. RAND, JR. Witnesses E. 1 GRAY, Pnann KARL.

